White House officials will press Senate Republicans behind closed doors Wednesday to pass a blueprint for another GOP-only megabill before they leave for the August recess, but save any possible debt ceiling increase for later, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Senate Republican leaders have been skeptical that there is the time — or the votes — to get it done. President Trump and his team disagree. - White House officials want the Senate to build in flexibility to jam through as much of the SAVE America Act as possible, and they are insisting it can be crafted to avoid tough amendment votes. Zoom in: Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, legislative affairs director James Braid and former House Speaker New…
Brian Johnson, President Trump's pick for director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) is testifying Thursday morning before the Senate Banking Committee. Johnson served in various roles at the agency during Trump's first administration. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has been serving as the acting CFPB head. Earlier this month, he was lambasted by Democrats over his tenure at the consumer watchdog agency, where he has moved quickly to halt many of its functions and shut down its headquarters. The CFPB, which was created in the wake of the 2007-08 financial crisis, has long been a target for conservatives, who argue it is a prime example of government overreach. #cfpb #trump #senate
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the brainchild of Democrat Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, was co-opted by the Trump administration to achieve its own goals in the fight against illegal immigration. Guidance issued by the CFPB last month reminded creditors of their obligations to “assess consumers’ ability to repay before offering mortgages and certain open-end credit products,” specifically noting that they should consider “consumers’ immigration status, especially where removal from the United States may disrupt the consumer’s income.” (RELATED: Democrats Plot Eleventh-Hour ‘Gerrymandering’ Effort To Oust Blue State’s Sole Republican Rep) The guidance then goes to great lengths to clarify that…Open
Rep. Mark Pocan and Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought clash over claims that cuts to USAID is linked to child deaths. Referencing Vought's Christian faith, Pocan asks, "Is it morally, ethically, or biblically wrong to facilitate the death of children?" Vought rejects the claims. Rep. Pocan says he's tapdancing around the question. #russellvought #omb #usaid #markpocan
Rep. Mark Pocan and Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought clash over claims that cuts to USAID is linked to child deaths. Referencing Vought's Christian faith, Pocan asks, "Is it morally, ethically, or biblically wrong to facilitate the death of children?" Vought rejects the claims. Rep. Pocan says he's tapdancing around the question. #russellvought #omb #usaid #pocan
Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, declined to give senators an estimate of the cost of the military operations against Iran when pressed on the issue during a hearing Thursday. Vought said the White House is working on a request for additional defense funding but declined to offer an estimate of how much the war has cost taxpayers so far, telling lawmakers that the costs “fluctuate” day to day. Asked by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) if the administration has already spent $50 billion on the conflict, as some media reports have indicated, Vought said: “I wouldn’t [want] to make a characterization of that at this point.” #IranWar #Budget #Military
